William IV, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Encyclopedia
William IV of Jülich-Berg (9 January 1455 – 6 September 1511) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg.
and Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg
. When his father died in 1475, William became Duke of Jülich-Berg.
He married the rich Countess Elisabeth of Nassau-Saarbrücken
in 1472, but she died in 1479. In 1481, William remarried with Sibylle of Brandenburg
, daughter of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg. Neither marriage produced a son, so the succession of the Duchy became a problem.
William then concluded in 1496 the Klever Union with John II, Duke of Cleves
, in which the union of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg and the Duchy of Cleves-Mark
was planned. William had only one five-year-old daughter, Maria
, who was promised in marriage to John II's six-year-old son John III
.
They married in 1510.
William died in 1511, leaving his daughter the final member of the House of Jülich. He is buried in Altenberg Abbey
. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, who inherited the Duchy of Cleves-Mark in 1521. John III
then became the first ruler of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, which would exist until 1666.
Life
William was the son of Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-BergGerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg was the son of William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg and Adelheid of Tecklenburg. Gerhard was the second duke of the combined Duchy of Jülich-Berg but the 7th Gerhard in the House of Jülich....
and Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg
Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg
Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Jülich-Berg...
. When his father died in 1475, William became Duke of Jülich-Berg.
He married the rich Countess Elisabeth of Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Saarbrücken was a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Upper Rhenish Circle. It belonged to the Walram branch of the House of Nassau.-County of Saarbrücken:...
in 1472, but she died in 1479. In 1481, William remarried with Sibylle of Brandenburg
Sibylle of Brandenburg
Sibylle of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Jülich and Duchess of Berg.- Life :...
, daughter of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg. Neither marriage produced a son, so the succession of the Duchy became a problem.
William then concluded in 1496 the Klever Union with John II, Duke of Cleves
John II, Duke of Cleves
John II, "The Pious" or "The Babymaker", Duke of Cleves, Count of Mark, was a son of John I, Duke of Cleves and Elizabeth of Nevers. He ruled Cleves from 1481 to his death in 1521...
, in which the union of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg and the Duchy of Cleves-Mark
Duchy of Cleves
The Duchy of Cleves was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was situated in the northern Rhineland on both sides of the Lower Rhine, around its capital Cleves and the town of Wesel, bordering the lands of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster in the east and the Duchy of Brabant in the west...
was planned. William had only one five-year-old daughter, Maria
Maria of Jülich-Berg
Maria of Jülich-Berg was born in Jülich, the daughter of Wilhelm IV, Duke of Jülich-Berg and Sibylle of Brandenburg....
, who was promised in marriage to John II's six-year-old son John III
John III, Duke of Cleves
John III the Peaceful, Duke of Cleves and Count of Mark was a son of John II, Duke of Cleves and Matilda of Hesse, daughter of Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse.John III became Regent of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg in 1521, and Lord of Ravensberg in 1528.John represented...
.
They married in 1510.
William died in 1511, leaving his daughter the final member of the House of Jülich. He is buried in Altenberg Abbey
Altenberg Abbey
Altenberg Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Altenberg, now a part of Odenthal in the Bergisches Land, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, who inherited the Duchy of Cleves-Mark in 1521. John III
John III, Duke of Cleves
John III the Peaceful, Duke of Cleves and Count of Mark was a son of John II, Duke of Cleves and Matilda of Hesse, daughter of Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse.John III became Regent of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg in 1521, and Lord of Ravensberg in 1528.John represented...
then became the first ruler of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, which would exist until 1666.